Sewer pipe lining is a trenchless repair that cures a new resin pipe inside your existing sewer line. For many homes in Orem, UT it means fixing root-damaged or cracked pipe without trenching through a driveway, patio, or mature landscaping.
It is not right for every line. A camera inspection decides whether lining is possible, and a collapsed or badly offset pipe usually needs digging. If sewage is backing up into the house right now, stop using water and call, because dispatch runs 24/7 and same-day appointments are available when possible.
How lining works in plain terms.
The usual method is cured-in-place pipe, often shortened to CIPP. A felt tube soaked in resin is pulled or inverted into the cleaned old pipe, then pressed against the walls and hardened with hot water, steam, or light. The result is a smooth, jointless liner that seals cracks and the gaps at joints where roots enter.
ASTM International publishes the standard practices for this work. ASTM F1216 covers rehabilitation by inversion and curing of a resin-impregnated tube, and ASTM F1743 covers pulled-in-place installation. Ask a contractor which practice they follow and what their lining material is rated for.
Lining versus digging, side by side.
Neither method wins everywhere. This comparison shows which problems each one suits.
| Situation | Lining usually fits | Digging usually fits. |
|---|---|---|
| Root intrusion at joints | Yes, after the roots are cut out | Only if the pipe is also crushed. |
| Long hairline cracks | Yes, the liner seals the full run | Possible, but more disruption. |
| Collapsed or crushed pipe | No, the liner cannot pass | Yes, the failed section is replaced. |
| Belly holding standing water | No, the liner follows the dip | Yes, the line is regraded. |
| Pipe under a driveway or slab | Often the less disruptive route | Slab work or breaking concrete. |
A camera look before the quote tells you which column your line belongs in.
Orem, UT: older sewer lines, shallow groundwater, and digging rules
Orem's population rose from 8,351 in 1950 to 52,399 in 1980, so many sewer laterals are now decades old. Older lines are where lining is most often considered, because roots and cracked joints show up with age. A camera look is the way to find out the actual condition of your own line.
Utah Geological Survey guidance says shallow groundwater is generally within 10 feet of the surface and can damage buried utility lines. The western, lower-lying parts of Orem sit in a valley near Utah Lake, so a cracked sewer line below the water table can pull groundwater in. That is one reason a sealed liner can matter in the lower-lying parts of town.
Any repair that needs digging calls for Blue Stakes of Utah 811, with advance notice (bluestakes.org lists the current minimum). Facility operators mark the lines they own, which may not include your private sewer lateral, so ask your contractor how they will locate it. Neighbors in Lindon and Provo face the same rules. Orem's adopted code is the 2021 International Plumbing Code (IPC) with Utah amendments, and permit rules vary by job, so ask the Orem Building Safety Division.
Before you price anything, find out who is responsible for each section of the line. The lateral between the house and the property line is generally the owner's concern, but the connection to the main and any section in the right of way can be different. Ask Orem public works who maintains which part of yours.
The advantages that matter in a finished yard.
The biggest gain is less digging. Access pits at each end can replace a long trench, which protects driveways, patios, and established trees. The finished liner has no joints, so roots lose their way in at the seams. Properly cured liners also give a smoother wall than aged clay or cast iron.
Lining can also be faster than replacement, since there is less excavation, backfill, and restoration. That matters when a household cannot go without a working sewer for long. A sewer line repair crew can tell you how long your section would take after seeing the camera footage.
Call to ask whether your line is a candidate for lining or needs digging.
Call (385) 488-1892.Where lining falls short.
A liner reduces the inside diameter slightly, and it cannot fix a pipe that has lost its shape. Bellies, offset joints, and collapsed sections stay as they are. The liner also needs a clean, dry-enough pipe, so any scale, roots, or debris must be removed first.
Side connections need to be reopened after curing, usually with a robotic cutter, and a missed or poorly cut opening can cause a backup. Ask who will inspect the finished liner on camera and whether you will get the footage. Epoxy coating under a slab is a different technique with its own limits, so ask what is actually being proposed.
What the job looks like from start to finish.
Camera inspection
A camera run shows cracks, roots, offsets, and bellies. This is also where a plumber confirms the pipe can accept a liner.
Cleaning the line
Roots and scale come out with a cutter or a high-pressure water jet so the liner can lie flat against clean pipe.
Installing the liner
The resin tube is pulled or inverted into place and cured, which takes hours depending on the length.
Reopening connections
A cutter restores flow from any branch lines tied into the section.
Final camera check
A second inspection confirms a smooth liner and open connections, and gives you a record.
What to ask a contractor before you agree to lining.
- Can I see the camera footage that shows why lining fits this section?
- Which ASTM practice will you follow, and which resin and curing method will you use?
- How will the side connections be reopened and checked?
- What happens if the camera shows a belly or collapse once the line is cleaned?
- Who handles permit questions, and who calls Blue Stakes 811 if any digging is needed?
- What is covered if the liner fails, and for how long?
How to compare a lining quote with a replacement quote.
Line the two quotes up by section length, access pits, cleaning, restoration of yard or pavement, and any camera work. A lining quote that skips cleaning and a replacement quote that skips landscaping are hiding costs in different places.
Cost drivers include pipe length, pipe diameter, depth, number of side connections, and whether the line sits under pavement. Ask for a clear price before work starts and which items could change it. Before you decide, have a sewer camera inspection done so both quotes are based on the same footage.
Common questions
Yes, once the roots are cut out and the line is clean. Lining seals the joints that let them in, but regrowth through a missed gap is possible, so ask for the final camera check.
No. A collapsed or badly crushed section blocks the liner, and that section is normally dug out and replaced. The camera will show which one you have.
Yes. Stop using water, keep people away from the affected area, and call. Dispatch runs 24/7 including nights and weekends, and same-day appointments are available when possible.
If any digging is involved, even for access pits, Blue Stakes of Utah requires advance notice (bluestakes.org lists the current minimum). Utility marks may not include your private sewer line, so ask the contractor how it will be located.
Utah Geological Survey guidance says shallow groundwater can damage buried utility lines. A cracked line in a low area can let groundwater in. The western, lower-lying parts of Orem sit in a valley near Utah Lake, so a camera inspection is a reasonable first step.
Sources and references
- ASTM F1216, Standard Practice for Rehabilitation of Existing Pipelines and Conduits by the Inversion and Curing of a Resin-Impregnated Tube, store.astm.org/f1216-24.html.
- ASTM F1743, Standard Practice for Rehabilitation of Existing Pipelines and Conduits by Pulled-in-Place Installation of Cured-in-Place Thermosetting Resin Pipe, astm.org (cited by title).
- Utah Geological Survey, Public Information Series 105 (2023), Shallow Groundwater Hazard in Utah, geology.utah.gov.
- Blue Stakes of Utah excavators guide, bluestakes.org.
- City of Orem adopted codes list, orem.org, and census counts.